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Brexit rebellion costs British PM May another minister

By Sommer Brokaw
British Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May has lost a Parliament junior defense minister after adding hard-line Brexit amendments to a customs bill that passed Monday. File photo by Will Oliver/EPA-EFE
British Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May has lost a Parliament junior defense minister after adding hard-line Brexit amendments to a customs bill that passed Monday. File photo by Will Oliver/EPA-EFE

July 17 (UPI) -- A junior British defense minister resigned Tuesday after Prime Minister Theresa May conceded to adding hard-line Brexit amendments into a customs bill.

British lawmakers passed the Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Bill Monday that creates an independent customs policy for Britain after it leaves the European Union.

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May added amendments that have been controversial, as the British government initially opposed them, but reversed course.

The amendments undercut parts of May's Chequers agreement, a plan for Britain's exit from the EU that some lawmakers said watered down Britain's future independence.

May's plan has drawn criticism from members of her party as well as pro-Brexit members. Brexit secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson resigned last week over the deal, which they said is too soft.

Junior Defense Minister Guto Bebb, who'd supported May's initial plan, objected to the new plan and also resigned.

A spokeswoman for May said the amendments are consistent with the original plan.

Parliament members will soon vote on whether to start their summer recess early -- this week instead of next Tuesday -- with return to work scheduled for Sept. 4.

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May continues to face growing opposition and pro-EU government ministers have pledged to back a different amendment for the plan to force Britain to join a customs union with the European Union.

Britain's departure from the EU is scheduled to begin in March, with the transition lasting through 2020.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron had called for the 2016 referendum on leaving the European bloc amid turmoil in the Conservative Party.

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